MileValue is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Note: Some of the offers mentioned below may have changed or are no longer be available. You can view current offers here.


This is pretty hilarious for anyone interested in currencies, McDonald’s, politics, Argentina, or The Economist. I happen to be interested in all five.

For years, press reports have suggested that the Argentine government has “leaned on Argentina’s McDonaldses to exercise restraint in their Big Mac pricing” because The Economist publishes a semi-tongue-in-cheek Big Mac Index that tracks purchasing power parity. See the full Slate article from 2012.

I snapped the picture above at a McDonald’s in Buenos Aires on December 3, 2014.

IMG_20141203_142037

What’s so funny? 

As you can see the Big Mac is 28 pesos, which is $3.28 at official exchange rates. What’s strange is how much cheaper the Big Mac is than the Triple Mac, and where the Big Mac’s price is on the list.

In much of the world including the United States, the Big Mac is the signature sandwich at McDonald’s. In Argentina, it is on the bottom of the price list and nowhere to be found on the large displays behind the counter. Instead, Argentine McDonaldses push the Triple Mac, which is a Big Mac with a third 0.1 pound patty. For that extra patty, you pay almost double the price, 55 pesos.

Fifty-five pesos is in line with other premium sandwich prices, which is where you might expect the Big Mac to be priced, instead of at its amazingly low 28 peso price.

Anyways, if you come to Argentina, skip the Big Mac and the Triple Mac. My pick for the best burger in the city is Burger Joint in Palermo. The Jamaican, Bleu, and Mexican are my three favorites. Get any with fries and a beer for 90 pesos (~$7 at Blue dollar rate and ~$11 at official rate.) Or skip the ground beef, and just chow down on huge, delicious steaks all over the city. I recommend Las Cabras in Palermo.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Just getting started in the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card for you to start with.

With a bonus of 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months, 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!


Editorial Disclaimer: The editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers.

The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.